The book serves to illustrate and amplify Idries Shah's preceding (over 20) books on the Sufi Way.

    Raised in the harsh Arabian Peninsula and orphaned while still a child, this unlikely leader and military genius received a calling to transform his society from a collection of raiding tribes into one of the world's most progressive societies. His message of monotheism and righetousness motivated an entire people to abandon idolatry and spread the word of God to surrounding nations. Although he was a military genius, his greatest accomplishments came from the religion he preached: Islam, which called its adherents to lead a life of prayer, charity, and contemplation. The second largest religion in the world, both Islam's prophet and its values are today often misunderstood by adherents and outsiders alike. This concise, informative biography explores Muhammad's background and boyhood; as well as the culture and society in which he lived. A look at Muhammad as a family man, and how his personal life was a testament to his high regard for women.

    Yet for her, headline events were only the backdrop to a less obvious but more enduring drama: the daily life of Muslim women. Nine Parts of Desire is the story of Brooks' intrepid journey toward an understanding of the women behind the veils, and of the often contradictory political, religious, and cultural forces that shape their lives. Defying our stereotypes about the Muslim world, Brooks' acute analysis of the world's fastest growing religion deftly illustrates how Islam's holiest texts have been misused to justify repression of women, and how male pride and power have warped the original message of a once liberating faith.

    Their lives and deeds have served as a source of inspiration to all the subsequent generations of humanity and have been retold and rewritten countless times. The stories presented in this book are translated from older texts in Arabic and Turkish. It is hoped that some of their perennial freshness is successfully transmitted, reminding the reader of the undying source of all revelation.

    Drawing on examples from animal life and nature, M.R. Bawa Muhaiyaddeen (Ral), cautions the reader to avoid what is wrong and turn towards what is right in every aspect of existence. Just open the book for inspiration, reflection and truth. These words illuminate the life of the soul and lead the reader towards God and unity with all lives.

    Award-winning journalist Jan Goodwin traveled through ten Islamic countries and interviewed hundreds of Muslim women, from professionals to peasants, from royalty to rebels. The result is an unforgettable journey into a world where women are confined, isolated, even killed for the sake of a "code of honor" created and zealously enforced by men.Price of Honor brings to life a world in which women have become pawns in a bitter power game, and gives readers a provocative look inside Muslim society today--in their own words.

    One of the finest exponents of the genre was Mir Babar Ali Anis, who came from a long line of distinguished Urdu poets. In this book one of Anis's best-known marsiyas: Jab qata ki masafat-e-shab aftab ne has been translated in English verse. The poem presents an account of the events of the 10th day of the month of Muharram, beginning with Hussain's preparations for the final battle at Karbala, and culminating in his death and the capture of those who were left of his family.Anis is regarded as one of the finest classical Urdu poets, and it is hoped that this translation goes some way at least in doing justice to his art and poetic skill.-Translator's note.

    The work is by Ibn Kathir, an eminent Muslim scholar, and is based entirely upon authentic texts. In many Ahadith, or Traditions, the Blessed Prophet Muhammad (S) described the condition in which people would live in those times. Some of the developments foretold by the Prophet (S) have already come to pass, such as the construction of high-rise buildings in the Middle East, also the frequent break-up of family ties and the almost universal presence of usury. Numerous Ahadith of the Prophet (S) describe such matters as the Dajjal or Antichrist and other temptations and disasters to which mankind will be subjected to as the disintegration of the natural order of things accelerates. The Last Days are also marked by supernatural apparitions which will manifest on an awesome scale the power of Allah Almighty. For Muslims there can be no more urgent or momentous questions to confront than these. For non-Muslims seeking knowledge about the Islamic perspective, this book presents material of vital importance in a clear English translation. The author of this book was one of the leading scholars of the 8th century of Islam (the 14th of the Christian era). Born in Busra, Syria, around the turn of that century, Isma'il Abu'I-Fadl `'Umar Ibn Kathir was educated chiefly in Damascus, initially specializing in the study of Hadith. He was strongly influenced by the famous theologian Ibn Taymiyyah. In middle age, Ibn Kathir himself achieved prominence as a highly versatile scholar. He produced a commentary on the Holy Qur'an, as well as several noteworthy volumes in the field of Hadith and jurisprudence. But Ibn Kathir, who died at Damascus in 774/1373, was also a historian. His treatise on the history of Islam, from which this book in your hands is an excerpt, extends to fourteen volumes in the printed edition. He also wrote

    Resonant with devotion, the writings describe the spiritual path with simplicity, directness, humor, and wisdom.

    Slavery was there in Babylon and elsewhere in Mesopotamia; it was widely prevalent in ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, centuries before the coming of Christ. Ancient India also had slaves but they were so mildly treated that foreign visitors like Megasthenes, who were acquainted with their fate in other countries, failed to notice the existence of slavery in this country. An altogether new dimension—religious sanction—was added to the institution of slavery with the rise of Christianity to power in the Roman Empire. Hitherto, slavery had been a creation of the crude in human nature—the urge to dominate over others, to make use of others for private comfort and profit. Now it was ordained that the God of the Christians had bestowed the whole earth and all its wealth on the believers, that the infidels had no natural or human rights, and that the believers, that the infidels had no natural or human rights, and that the believers could do to the infidels whatever they chose—kill them, plunder them, reduce them to the status of slaves or non-citizens. In short, slavery became a divinely ordained institution.

    In concert with the tabla and sitar, his writing is part of a religious tradition that is believed to excite "spiritual heroism," embracing the holiness of love, lamentation, battle, and the longing for God.Rumi: Voice of Longing collects nearly 100 of Rumi's most memorable quatrains, presented here for the first time on two superbly remastered CD recordings. Includes musical accompaniment by Marcus Wise on tablas and David Whetstone on sitar, and a special appearance by renowned poet Robert Bly.Translated and performed by the Rumi scholar Coleman Barks, these works echo with a spiritual complexity that defies their outward simplicity. As Sufism acknowledges the truth of other religions, so does Rumi's poetry reflect universal themes: the search for the highest truth, the mystery of surrender, the longing to overcome ego imprisonment. Rumi: Voice of Longing captures the silence, the love, and the playfulness that make each experience with this work one of sacred wonder.

    He then suggests how these teachings can be employed to conceptualize the study of world religions in a contemporary context.Ibn al-Arabi, known as the "Greatest Master,"is the most influential Muslim thinker of the past 600 years. This book is an introduction to his thought concerning the ultimate destiny of human beings, God and the cosmos, and the reasons for religious diversity. It summarizes many of Ibn al-Arabi's teachings in a simple manner. The ideas discussed are explained in detail.The book is divided into three parts. In the first part Chittick explains Ibn al-Arabi's concept of human perfection; in the second part he looks at various implications of the World of Imagination; and in the third part he exposes Ibn al-Arabi's teachings on why God's wisdom demands diversity of religious expression, and he suggests how these teachings can be employed to conceptualize the study of world religions in a contemporary context.

    Presents and illustrates many concepts and distinctions essential to metaphysics, anthropology, and religious phenomology."

    

    "Discover yourself by becoming, by doing. The retreat situation marks a halt in which we step out of our normal mode of existence in order to reflect upon our lives and gain more clarity and, ultimately, become more aware of what our real objective is in life. A retreat is an opportunity for a lot of reflection, a time to explore those skills which will open up faculties that we are not using and insights of which we are not aware."

    It is designed to prepare the jurist for the task of the mujtahid, the independent jurist, who derives the law and lays down precedents to be followed by the judge in the administration of justice. In this manual Ibn Rushd traces most of the issues of Islamic law, describing not only what the law is, but also elaborating the methodology of some of the greatest legal minds in Islam to show how such laws were derived. This text provides a still-relevant basis for the interpretation and formulation of Islamic law. Combining his legal and philosophical knowledge, Ibn Rushd transcends the boundaries of different schools and presents a critical analysis of the opinions of the famous Muslim jurists and their methodologies. The legal subject areas covered include marriage and divorce; sale and exchange of goods; wages, crop-sharing and speculative partnership; security for debts and insolvency; gifts, bequests and inheritance; and offences and judgements.

    "The All-Compassionate Creator desires THANKS in retun for the bounties He bestows on mankind. As for wastefullness, it is contrary to thanks, and slights the bounties and causes loss. While frugality is both thanks, and shows respect towards the Divine Mercy manifested in the bounties, and is the cause of plenty."

    Full description

    Precise, yet comprehensive, it covers the traditional disciplines, including the meaning and contexts of revelation, the history and transmission of the text, and exegesis, as well as more contemporary topics like the recording of the Koran, the history of Orientalist approaches, and a survey of translations. It ends with a guide for the correct recitation of, and etiquette toward, the Koran.Chapter 1: The Qur'an and RevelationChapter 2: Transmission of the Qur'anic RevelationChapter 3: The Qur'an in Manuscript and PrintChapter 4: Form, Language and StyleChapter 5: Understanding the TextChapter 6: Interpreting the TextChapter 7: Some Related IssuesChapter 8: Reading and Studying the Qur'anAhmad Von Denffer was born in Germany in 1949. He studied Islamics and Social Anthropology at the Universty of Mainz, where he also attended additional courses in the Department of Missiology. His special interests include Christian-Muslim relations. He has made a number of contributions to scholarly journals and has several publications to his credit. He joined the Islamic Foundation as Research Fellow in 1978 and is presently working with the Islamic Centre, Munich.

    Why not just Allah? Why Muhammad's Allah?This unique book explains that Allah is not a god (deity) and that this god-concept we have all come to embrace, as a result of misleading information and conditioning, is not the Allah expounded by Muhammad (saw).Everyone, from the most learned to the most ignorant, has a concept of God.A God that we love, get angry with, judge and even accuse, at times, for doing wrong by us! We imagine this God, who sits on a star in the heavens or dwells somewhere in space, to be like a benevolent paternal figure or a majestic sultan!Those with broader views (!) are well aware, of course, that such a God cannot exist and claim they do not believe in a God, proudly declaring themselves as atheists.Whereas, neither the aforementioned believers who postulate a God with their hearsay knowledge and conditionings, nor the atheists who deny and reject the idea of a God, have any awareness of Allah as explained by Muhammad (saw)!So what is the reality of Allah revealed by Muhammad (saw)?Muhammad (saw), who articulated the Quran to us, taught us there is no God, that there is only Allah; that there is a System present within life, by which those who fail to comply, are led to suffer the consequences of their own actions.If we live with the awareness of the existence of an afterlife, our primary concern should be to know Allah and the life awaiting us after death, so that we may prepare accordingly.Taking this into consideration, let us now try to understand the One denoted by the name Allah disclosed by Muhammad (saw).

    The End of the Jihad State demonstrates for the first time that the cause of this collapse came not just from internal conflict, as has been claimed, but from a number of external and concurrent factors that exceeded the caliphate's capacity to respond.

    

    It contains a detailed description of both physical and spiritual diseases, drawing both from the Qur’an and from the wisdom of Prophet Muhammad (SAAS). The author’s knowledge of medicine was not only academic but also based on sound practice and experience.

    She then moves on to less obvious signs, such as sacred time and space, ritual actions, forms of worship, the sacred individual, and the order of the community. She concludes with an examination of the individual's response to the mystery of the Divine. Based on both original classical sources and modern literature, as well as the author's considerable personal experience, this is not only a fascinating survey of Islamic practices and beliefs, but also a broad and integrated overview of the phenomenology of Islam.

    Details are drawn from the author's extensive experience of a Sufi group, but the ideas are applicable to any group dedicated to inner work.

    It describes how Muslim scientists and engineers contributed enormously to the technology of medieval Europe.

    The lectures center on the deceit of the ego and how to overcome its cunning ways.

    Their stories offer a rare and special opportunity to witness the harrowing experience of flight and dislocation and to marvel at the resilience of the human spirit. "I am an exile, " writes Mahnaz Afkhami. "I have been in exile for fifteen years. I have been forced to stay out of my own country, Iran, because of my work for women's rights. I recognized no limits, ends, or framework in this work outside those set by women themselves in their capacity as independent human beings. The charges against me are 'corruption on earth' and 'warring with God.' Being charged in the Islamic Republic of Iran is being convicted. There is no defense or appeal, although I would not have known how to defend myself against such a grand accusation as warring with God anyway. There has not been a trial, not even in absentia, and no formal conviction. Nevertheless, my home in Tehran has been ransacked and confiscated, my books, pictures, and mementos taken, my passport invalidated, and my life threatened repeatedly." Attempting to come to terms with her own life in exile, Mahnaz Afkhami sought out and talked with twelve other women, from all parts of the globe, most now settled in the United States. With her, we meet Samnang of Cambodia, survivor of a bloody march to nowhere who now teaches preventive health practices; Azar, whose flight took her through the Iran-Turkish mountains on horseback, protected by no government, sought by two, who now manages a major publications program and two healthy children; Maria Teresa, beaten, raped, and tortured in El Salvador after the assassination of her husband, who now travels around the world on behalf of human rights; Ngoc-Ho, a doctor in Vietnam, whose small child did not survive a six-day flight by boat, who is now a leader in the Vietnamese community.

    As a pilgrim he describes his long and wonderful journey across many different countr

    The Nine Conditions of the Testimony of Faith.